| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.19 |
| Liaison | Kimberly Reeves |
| Submission Date | Nov. 22, 2024 |
Agnes Scott College
PA-3: Institutional Governance
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.25 / 4.00 |
Kimberly
Reeves Executive Director Center for Sustainability |
3.1 Student participation in governance
Narrative and/or website URL outlining the ongoing bodies through which students can democratically participate in the governance of the institution:
Students democratically participate in governance at Agnes Scott through the Student Government Association (SGA). SGA is composed of elected students, who serve as the executives representing a range of student organizations and liaisons to campus departments. The student body elects members to SGA each spring and within the first two weeks of classes for the incoming first-year class.
Are one or more student representatives included as members of the institution’s highest decision-making body?:
Narrative and/or website URL outlining student representation on the institution’s highest decision-making body:
The SGA President is invited to attend the Board of Trustees meetings to bring voice to the student body. Each of the Board of Trustees Committees includes a student representative to intentionally provide voice for students.
Does at least one student representative have voting rights on the highest decision-making body?:
Description of other mechanisms used to consult students on institutional decisions, plans, or policies:
The SGA President is not a member of the Board of Trustees, so they do not have voting power. But they are highly encouraged to speak, provide the collective voice of the student body, and offer counsel to the highest decision-making body.
Agnes Scott has a strong culture of shared governance. Opportunities for students to consult and give open opinions are prioritized throughout the college framework. These include town halls, focus groups, informal feedback sessions, online surveys, and one-on-one meetings. In FY24, the college changed the system and format for the cost of housing and housing placement system; they engaged students by holding open small groups to gain student feedback. In FY23, the campus underwent a focused update to the 2019 Campus Master Plan. Under the direction of the college, the contracted design firm, Sasaki, prioritized student feedback to inform and influence the update by hosting focus groups with undergraduate and graduate students.
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
3.2 Academic staff participation in governance
Narrative and/or website URL outlining the ongoing bodies through which academic staff can democratically participate in the governance of the institution:
The Faculty, as a whole, is the governing body of our college’s academic staff. As such, the Faculty meet weekly as a full governing body to democratically participate in the governance of the institution. The President of Agnes Scott has Faculty designation and attends the Faculty meetings. The Faculty annually elect members to the Faculty Executive Committee (FEC) to lead all faculty decision-making. There are also specific faculty committees, each assigned with subjects to research and then report back their recommendations to the full faculty and the Board of Trustees via the FEC President. The FEC also recruits and assigns faculty members to serve on all Board of Trustee committees to give voice to academic staff.
Are one or more academic staff representatives included as members of the institution’s highest decision-making body?:
Narrative and/or website URL outlining academic staff representation on the institution’s highest decision-making body:
Since the President of the college is a Faculty, there is one academic staff representative on the institution’s highest decision-making body. The Faculty Executive Committee also assigns academic staff members to attend every session of the Board of Trustees and present on topics and material, but are not official members of the board.
Does at least one academic staff representative have voting rights on the institution’s highest decision-making body?:
Description of other mechanisms used to consult academic staff on institutional decisions, plans, or policies:
Along with the President of the college attending Faculty meetings, the President’s Cabinet members are invited to speak and intentionally seek out these meetings as opportunities to share information and consult academic staff for feedback. The President and the President’s Cabinet also host regular Community Forums and Opening Sessions for faculty and staff to receive timely information and foster the intentional opportunity for discussion.
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
3.3 Non-academic staff participation in governance
Narrative and/or website URL outlining the ongoing bodies through which non-academic staff can democratically participate in the governance of the institution:
Agnes Scott has a strong Staff Council with elected representatives from all departments and divisions. This non-academic staff group annually elects their chairperson and members. Staff Council members are selected to serve on all Board of Trustee committees to give voice to non-academic staff. The Staff Council has been responsible for major decisions that positively impact the staff.
Are one or more staff members representing non-managerial workers included as members of the institution’s highest decision-making body?:
Narrative and/or website URL outlining non-academic staff representation on the institution’s highest decision-making body:
The Staff Council chair/co-chairs present to the Board of Trustees at every plenary meeting to give voice to staff; they are not considered official members of the board.
Does at least one staff member representing non-managerial workers have voting rights on the institution’s highest decision-making body?:
Description of other mechanisms used to consult non-academic staff on institutional decisions, plans, or policies:
The Staff Council assigns staff members to attend every session of the Board of Trustees and present on topics and material to give voice to staff, but are not official members of the board.
The President and the President’s Cabinet members are invited to speak and intentionally seek out these staff meetings as opportunities to share information and consult non-academic staff for feedback. The President and the President’s Cabinet also host regular Community Forums and Opening Sessions for faculty and staff to receive timely information and foster the intentional opportunity for discussion.
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
3.4 Community participation in governance
Narrative and/or website URL outlining the ongoing bodies through which local community-based organizations can democratically participate in the governance of the institution:
Has the institution used one or more ad hoc mechanisms during the previous three years to consult local community members on institutional decisions, plans, or policies?:
Narrative and/or website URL outlining the ad hoc mechanisms used during the previous three years to consult local community members on institutional decisions, plans, or policies:
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
Optional documentation
Additional documentation for this credit:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.